<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000004904
<NAME> AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   11,609,619
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,483,751
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,585,635
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       285,735
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               1,833,663
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              16,798,403
<COMMON>                                     1,295,936
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,795,378
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          1,641,607
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               4,732,921
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          127,605
<PREFERRED>                                     46,566
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         5,181,556
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             179,900
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 460,250
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  120,285
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    445,247
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               100,784
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,403,289
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               16,798,403
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,170,582
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            91,604
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,823,046
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,914,650
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        255,932
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 794
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 256,726
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       103,551
<NET-INCOME>                                   150,586
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,589<F1>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  150,586
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       113,996
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       55,604
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         338,990
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.79
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.79
<FN>
<F1>Represents preferred stock dividend requirements of
subsidiaries; deducted before computation of net income.
</FN>